Mercury toxicity (acrodynia) induced by long-term injection of gammaglobulin

The three modern faces of mercury.

“…Matheson et al (59) do not quote a specific figure for the change in urinary excretion after injection of thimerosal, but the graph published in their article indicates little change. They state that 90% of the total mercury in urine was in the inorganic form.…”

“…Treatment of infants with omphaloceles resulted in high levels of mercury in autopsy tissues (57). Cases of human poisoning have also occurred from infusion of large volumes of plasma containing thimerosal as a preservative (58,59). …”

Technical Report: Mercury in the Environment: Implications for Pediatricians

“…31 Very high exposures to thimerosalcontaining products-as components of intramuscular injections, used for painting omphaloceles, as a preservative in ␥-globulin administered at highdoses or for a long period of time, or as intentionally ingested-have resulted in toxicity, including acrodynia, chronic mercury toxicity, renal failure, and neuropathy. [32][33][34][35][36] In an assay of chronic effects in rats, ethylmercury exposure resulted in renal and neurotoxicity in mature rats similar to exposure to methylmercury. 37 Follow-up studies in infants on the neurodevelopmental toxicity of ethylmercury in vaccines were done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink project.…”

Thimerosal in Vaccines—An Interim Report to Clinicians

“…2 Massive overdoses from inappropriate use of thimerosal-containing products have resulted in toxicity. [3][4][5][6][7] As part of an ongoing review of biologic products in response to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act of 1997, the FDA has determined that infants who receive thimerosalcontaining vaccines at several visits may be exposed to more mercury than recommended by federal guidelines for total mercury exposure.…”